Lauren Laverne's Spacepod 2012 podcast: episode 3

In this third episode of the podcast, Lauren takes a look at an art project spanning the length of Hadrian's Wall. Plus we hear the Stockhausen helicopter quartet from Birmingham, and an interview with actor Simon Russell Beale

In this third episode of this special London 2012 festival podcast, Lauren investigates an art project called Connecting Light, which uses hundreds of LED-infused balloons floating above the 73 miles of Hadrian's Wall to transmit messages sent by members of the public – perhaps the longest artwork in the world.

Comedian Jon Holmes reports from Mittwoch aus Licht, a once-in-a-lifetime performance of Karlheinz Stockhausen's sprawling opera, which features – among much more – a string quartet playing in individual helicopters above the skies of Birmingham (not to mention a walk-on part for a camel).

And Lauren speaks to brilliant classical actor Simon Russell Beale, currently playing Shakespeare's money-obsessed Timon of Athens at the National Theatre.

Finally, she catches up with critic and curator Igor Toronyi-Lalic, with a roundup of what's happening in the festival this week.

Musician Laura Moody with her Cello, a member of the string quartet, prepares to practice on a helicopter in Birmingham ahead of the Birmingham Opera Company performance of Karlheinz Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht. Photograph: Adam Fradgley/PA